'Greening' of Gulf vital to future growth, say IPM organisers

Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, the annual exhibition is part of a drive to establish Dubai as a hub for the multi-billion dollar global horticulture industry and to promote what organisers called the 'greening' of the Gulf.

"GCC states are turning thousands of hectares of desert into parks and gardens, which will increase quality of life in the region, attracting people and stimulating economic activity," said Michael Mueller, Managing Director, planetfair Dubai LLC, organiser of the event along with Messe Essen GmbH, Germany.

"Our aim is to provide a platform for trade and the exchange of information, which will play a key part in these efforts. IPM Dubai has already turned in the yearly meeting point of cut flower trade and will present a variety of outdoor and indoor plants never seen before in the region."

This year's IPM, Mueller added, will be the largest yet, hosting an array of plant producers, breeders, traders, landscapers, retailers, wholesalers, real estate developers, government figures and representatives from the hospitality industry. More than 220 exhibitors from 28 countries will showcase a wide variety of flora, including indoor and outdoor plants, cut flowers, ornamental plants and tree nursery goods.

While Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have seen a boost in public works to establish green areas, Dubai has led the way in terms of the scope and ambition of the projects. Dubai Municipality plans to undertake 109 landscape and beautification projects worth Dhs463m, in 2008. This will include the development of six public parks, 21 neighbourhood parks, 23 community facilities and four pond parks.

The projects will add a total of 113 hectares of greenery to the city, in line with the Strategic Plan for Dubai Municipality (2007-2011). The core aim of the plan is to increase the per-capita share of green space to 23.4 square metres and to increase the area of cultivated urban land to 3.15% of the total by 2011.

Hana Al Zarouni, Public Parks and Horticulture Department, Dubai Municipality, said, "Our beautification plans are in full swing, which is driving demand for increased volume and quality of plants and flowers, along with horticultural technology and expertise. IPM has worked consistently well in promoting all of these areas and we are happy to have the exhibition in Dubai."

Mr. Ali Al Jallaf, Vice President, Cargo Unit, Dubai Airports, stated that Dubai is also set to become a key global player in the horticultural trade, serving as a gateway among growers, traders and buyers.

"We are witnessing a boom in the indoor and outdoor plant trade," he said. "Much of this trade is being driven by the Dubai Flower Centre, which has become an important export, transit and redistribution centre for flowers and plants in the region."

Sabina Dillen, Department Manager, Trade Fairs & Exhibitions, Messe Essen Gmbh, organiser's of the mother event in Essen, Germany, said,

"Horticultural trade is big business globally and the figures are set to increase. This is according to the Central Market and Price Reporting Agency, Bonn. Around Euros8.62bn (Dhs46.3bn) were spent on flowers and plants at retail prices in Germany in 2007. That is a per-head consumption of almost Euros105.00 (Dhs565)."

IPM 2008 is backed by the Dubai Airports, Dubai Flower Centre, the Ministry of Environment and Water, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Participants from the UAE include market leaders as Al Huraiz, Alissar, Al Darmaky, Arabian Agricultural, Aramex Perishables, Gover Horticulture and Shirin Flowers and SWIFT Perishables.

The event will showcase the latest technology and techniques in landscaping, irrigation, plant protection and seed plantation, along with floristry accessories and sales promotion items. Flower demonstrations, workshops and seminars will take place throughout the course of the three-day event.

"There has been a sharp rise in the number of registrations for IPM 2008," said Mueller.